Lohse sharp as Cardinals edge Phillies

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Kyle Lohse let the Philadelphia Phillies
know there would not be a repeat performance.

Lohse pitched eight outstanding innings Saturday, lifting the
St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 victory over the Phillies.

Following a night in which the Cardinals' pitching staff was
battered for 20 runs and 21 hits, Lohse (8-2) had his longest
outing of the season, giving up only two runs and four hits.

"Obviously we needed some innings out of me," Lohse said after
the Phillies wore out six Cardinals pitchers on Friday. "I was
able to give the team what they needed and stayed strong for
eight."

Ryan Franklin preserved Lohse's team-leading eighth win with a
1-2-3 ninth for his ninth save of the season.

Lohse now has won five straight starts for the first time in his
career and hasn't lost since May 9 against the Colorado Rockies.

"The thing about Kyle is he's been real aggressive with
different pitches," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "He
goes to both sides of the plate and has four or five pitches
that he can locate."

Adam Kennedy provided the offense early for the Cardinals.
Kennedy hit his first homer of the season with a runner aboard
in the first inning off Phillies start Adam Eaton to give St.
Louis an early 2-0 lead.

"It was great to get on the board early after last night's
debacle," Kennedy said. "Then, we played great defense for
Kyle."

Ryan Ludwick added the third and decisive run for the Cardinals
with a single in the third inning to score Skip Schumaker.
Batting No. 3 since the injury to All-Star Albert Pujols,
Ludwick has a team-leading 53 RBI.

"I got a slider away and was fortunate enough to put it into
left center," Ludwick said. "I'm glad we have the chance to win
the series Sunday after (Friday's) game."

Pat Burrell picked up the only two RBI for the Phillies with his
18th homer of the season in the fourth. Burrell has 14 home
runs and 46 RBI in 47 games in his career against the Cardinals.